Round 17, 1985
North Melbourne vs Melbourne
Saturday 27 July
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 10,787
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| North Melbourne | 3.6 | 11.7 | 15.11 | 17.12.114 |
| Melbourne | 3.1 | 6.6 | 11.8 | 16.14.110 |
North Melbourne win by 4 points
Goalkickers: John Fidge 6, Ted Fidge 3, Les Parish 2, Shane Zantuck 2, Alan Jarrott 1, Peter Moore 1, Russell Richards 1
Brownlow Votes:
3 - Gerard Healy
Milestones:
Nil
The third lowest MCG crowd since World War 2 saw a contest where Melbourne gave the more fancied North a scare before succumbing to yet another loss.
North built up a handy lead before putting on the brakes. Every time the Demons kicked a goal that day North responded until 19 minutes into the last quarter when a Shane Zantuck goal was quickly followed by a Les Parish effort to cut the margin to 17 points. John Fidge added another to make it exciting. He marked the ball while lying on the ground - it fell straight into his arms.
Twice more Melbourne got within four points, but a soccered goal by Phil Krakouer saved Kangaroo blushes.
Fidge got 6.4 for the day after having spent much of the year in the reserves. With Fidge dominating the maligned David Cordner was swung into the backline where he had a good game. Barassi refused to give any praise to Fidge, suggesting he should have had seven at half-time and suggesting his lax attitude at kicking for goal was what had seen him marooned in the two's for so long.
Seven losses in a row and with five games left in his coaching career it started to seem like the great Barassi may never be in charge of another victory. He argued that his side would have been the equal of North if he had a full complement of players.
The year was over for the Demons but North were delivered a hammer blow at the tribunal with Phil Krakouer, one of the top choices for the Brownlow, given a six match ban for kicking former-Roo Alan Jarrott. Jarrott did the traditional playing down of the incident in front of the tribunal, suggesting he'd only felt a brush above the thigh, but the league took a more dim view. North fans didn't have the same view and Jarrott reportedly received death threats over the phone.
Best were Healy, Wright and J. Fidge. Wilson injured his leg and Bailey was concussed.
Video
Reserves (played Sunday 28 July at Lake Oval)
North Melbourne 14.9.93 d. Melbourne 7.18.60
Goals - Healy 3, Dan 2, Grinter 1, Ryan 1
Best - Tanner, Smythe, Withers
Under 19s
North Melbourne 17.23.125 d. Melbourne 4.5.29
Goals - Brodie 1, Hewitson 1, Lyon 1, Marra 1
Best - Lyon, McCarthy, Stynes
Media
Canberra Times - 28/07/1985
Age - 29/07/1985
Age - 30/07/1985
Inside Football - 08/08/1985
Football Record R18 1985